Holiday shoppers warned to check URL for four-letter word when buying online or risk having bank account drained
For people who are unable to deal with crowded malls and long checkout lines, purchasing holiday gifts online is an option.
However, dishonest scammers who wish to exploit customers frequently target the season.
Scams increased by a staggering 125% in the previous year, according to data from the Better Business Bureau.
Since then, experts have offered a piece of advice to help consumers avoid danger when making purchases for their loved ones.
Before entering card information, online users should verify their web address, according to business commentator David Lazarus.
He said to The CWaffiliateKTLA, “Look at the little URL at the top where it says http.”
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What you want to see is https, which indicates that you are using a secure connection and that no one will be watching you while you complete the transaction.
The presence of the letter “s” indicates that a Secure Sockets Layer has been used to secure the website.
This tool stops data theft by hackers.
Websites may occasionally use a padlock, which gives users additional peace of mind.
This indicates once more that a website is regarded as secure.
Additionally, online purchasers should verify that URLs are free of spelling errors.
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A person could be led to a fraud by even the smallest error.
The URL is the first place to start, according to Better Business Bureau experts.
You want to know that you can get in touch with customer service if something goes wrong. The regional director of the BBB’s Springfield office, Pamela Hernandez, told the NBC affiliate KSNF.
One piece of advice that customers have been given is to check the URL.
Bank tips for avoiding scams
Because artificial intelligence is being used to make frauds more sophisticated, it’s critical to understand how to recognize a scam:
- Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
- Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
- Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
- Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
- Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
- Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
- Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.
Source: Chase.com
Experts have emphasized how crucial it is to prevent scammers from taking advantage of you.
“There’s no better time to keep your guard up,” Andrew Goode toldWHTM, “because we’re all in a hurry and trying to make decisions quickly, and our guard is down.”
Scammers will take advantage of another fantastic tip because they know you won’t be vigilant.
Before entering credit card information, consumers should study the retailer and be wary of viral social media advertisements, according to BBB authorities.
The agency said that scammers are skilled at making a phony website appear authentic.
Additionally, agencies have cautioned about the consequences of gift card fraud.
Latonya Jackson disclosed that she purchased a few gift cards prior to Thanksgiving of last year, but they appeared to have been altered.
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According to the NBC affiliate KNBC, she distributed the gift cards to community members, but they called to complain that there was no money on them.
She claimed that it was both really awful and embarrassing.
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